Fruit orientation machine



Sept- 9, 1952 w. A. DOERING ET AL FRUJL'T ORIENTATION MACHINE Filed July 11. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORJ WILLIAM A. DOQl/VG (WILL/AM a. K06/V/6 4H0 rn eg Sept. 1952 w. A. DOERING ETAL 2,609,913

FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE Filed July 11. 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ': WILLIAM A. DOQ/NG WILL/4M 6. KOEN/G lfforney p 1952 w. A. DOERING ET AL FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11. 1949 P 1952 w A. DOERING ET AL 2,609,913

FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE Filed July 11. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 5/ 89 /g H 88 mm! i /2/ 52 90 WILL/4M A DOEQING W/lL/IM 6. KO/V/G h P 1952 w. A. DOERING ETAL 2,609,913

7 FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE Filed July 11. 1949 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 U /5/ I55 I50 I I 15 I55 m d g/z v INVENTORJ; WILLIAM A. DOCQING -WILLIAM E. kOEN/G lrforneg S p 1952 w. A. DOERING ETAL 2,609,913

FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE INVENTORS: WILL/AM A. DOEQING WILL/AM E. KOWI6 Maw lrfara e1 Sept 9, 1952 w. A. DOERING ETAL 7 2,609,913

FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE Filed July 11. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 WILLIAM A. poem/v0 WILL/AM E. roe/v10 lfforneg Patented Sept. 9, 1952 FRUIT ORIENTATION MACHINE William A. Doering, Palo Alto, and William E.

Koenig,

Redwood City,

Calif., assignors to S. & W. Fine Foods, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., ,a corporation of California Application July 11, 1949, Serial No. 104,124

This invention relates to fruit orientation machines and more particularly to that type of fruit orientation device wherein the fruit is rotated in a recess by resting on a rotating member positioned adjacent the bottom of the receptacle. This rotating member is shaped to generally fit the stem indent of the fruit so that when the indent and the member register the fruit no longer rotates. With the stem indent in a predetermined position, the fruit can be pitted or otherwise operated on in a uniform manner.

One of the preferred fruit rotating members for use in the above discussed method of orientation is a wheel, as shown, described, and claimed in the United States Patent to Carroll No. 2,220,511, patented November 5, 1940, of which the present invention is an improvement.

In cherry pitting machines in which no orientation takes place, it is customary to deposit the cherries in relatively shallow hemispherical concave recesses in resilient rubber members, with an aperture in the bottom thereof through which the pit of the cherry is forced by the action of a pitting tool moving downwardly through the cherry and aperture. These hemispherical fruit holders are termed in the art cup-like receptacles. Thus it was natural, when a wheel was used in the bottom of the cup to orientate the fruit, that cuplike receptacles be used to hold the fruit and when so used the wheel-receptacle combination was successful in orientating a high percentage of fruit to the desired predetermined position.

It has been found, however, that it is possible to greatly improve the shape of the recess in which the fruit is rotated, thereby increasing orientation percentages, and it has been further 7 found, as a result of extensive tests on various shaped fruit holding recesses, that when any type of curved surface is used in the cup against which the cherry is rotated, a greater resistance to rotation of the cherry is offered during orientation than when flat or nearly flat surfaces are used for the recess sides.

As the registry of the stem indent with the wheel rotating the fruit i to some extent a matter of chance depending on the number and type of revolutions of the fruit, and as in commercial pitting machines a high output is desired, anything tending to slow up rotation of the fruit extends the time required for the desired registry.

Again, cherries are light and rest with only their own weight on the wheel. The wheel cannot be speeded up indefinitely to rotate the fruit faster, as the frictional drive will slip or the cherry will be bounced in the air, rather than ro- 20 Claims. (01. 198-33) have heretofore been orientated in receptacles having continuously curved surfaces at least in of their peripheral surfaces, many surface areas having radii equal to or even much greater than the radius of the continuously curved receptacles,

thus providing a line contact with the thrust surface or, when a hemispherical receptacle is used, even an area contact. The friction of this extended contact plus surface tension effects caused by liquid adhering to the cherry surface often causes the cherry to stop rotating before proper orientation position has been reached. This condition results in a lowered orientation percentage to such an extent that vibration of the receptacle hasbeen resorted to during fruit rotation in an attempt to permit freer rotation of the fruit.

In accordance with the present invention, the effective diameter of the recess can be held to a figure where the fruit i held centrally over the wheel, but the radius of curvature of the thrust walls, both vertically and horizontally, can be made much larger than one-half the effective diameter even up to an infinite radius, 1. e., resulting in the use of a flat surface as preferred herein. In consequence, I do not wish to be limited to any particular radius of curvature for the recess definingsurfaces except those radii which are substantially larger than one-half the effective recess diameter, which, of course, in the preferred embodiment shown and described herein, is the shortest distance between opposed surfaces in any horizontal plane.

However, as the main rotational friction takes place between the thrust surface and the fruit,

The same reason obtains for the preferable construction for use of a relatively flat instead of curved bottom for the recess; friction is reduced as the cherry contacts the bottom thereof as the indent approaches registry, and there is less chance of the cherry sticking just short of the proper registry.

Tests have shown that, with the 'preferredfiat surfaced receptacles shownand described herein,..

well over 90% orientation can be regularly achieved, a large number of the fruit in the 10% not oriented being misshapen or malformed fruit which would not under any circumstances-become properly orientated by any wheel and recess combination. Thus, a high output with a high percentage of properly orientated fruit is obtained by the use of the present invention.

In a preferred form of the invention; the desired results can be obtained by utilizing a re- .cess member presenting a flat thrust surface to the cherry, against which the cherry is thrown bythewheel during rotation. This surface is .preferably positioned tointersect, at all levels,

the horizontal planes extending at right angles to the wheel plane. As cherries even in a graded group are not uniform in diameter, I prefer to slope the flat front surfaces towardthe wheel. To maintain the cherry against the thrust surface, I preferably provide the recess withsloping Y flat sides and a sloping rear flat surface to make a recess having, at all levels, a square horizontal section, bigger at the top than atthe bot- -tom,- and with the wheel centrally positioned in preferably a fiat bottom and extending upwardly to contact a fruit in the square section recess. This type of recess may be deemed t have an inverted truncated pyramidal shape. The'size of the recess is proportioned to permit the fruit placed therein to freely rotate under drive from the wheel when the peripheral fruit surface is contacted by the wheel, but to settle over the wheel when the wheel registers with the stem indent so that the fruit rotation-ceases.

With this type of fruit recess a minimum of contacts will be made with the receptacle walls, and the fruit in general will be limited to a maximum of two such contacts atany one moment, as for example when the cheery is contacting the thrust surface and one orthe other of the side walls. Resistance to rotation is greatly reduced and by actual test a higher average percentage of orientation has been obtained using flat'surfaces in the fruit recess than when any type or combination ofcurved surfaces are used as walls of the recess.

One of the problems of orientating fruit by the use of a fruit supporting orientating member that orientates the fruit to placethe indent-tip axis of the fruit normal to the bottom: of the recess,

is that the orientation member is in the way of a pitting knifeused'to force a pit-out of a fruit such as a cherry. Thus, when the fruit is to be pitted in an orientated positionythe orientation member must beremoved from below the fruit and a pitting support-substituted; r,'the'fruit must be transferred from the recess in which the orientation occurred .to a pitting support.

However; when flat surfaces are used forthe front, rear .andsides of a fruit restraining re- 4 cess, the members on which such surfaces are formed may be separate members individually relatively movable when mounted on a carrier. When the recess forming members are so mounted it then becomes possible to, for example, remove one end of a recess to permit removal of properly orientated fruit with a straight line motion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fruit orientating recess from which properly orientated fruit can be removed with a minimum disturbance of fruit position.

.Astill further object of the present invention is to provide a simple mode of orientation memvher-drive.

The 1 present-invention possesses numerous .otherobjects and features of advantage, some of which together with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of specific apparatus embodying and utilizing our novel method. 'It is, therefore, to be understoodrthat our method is applicable to other apparatus-and thatwe do not limit ourselves in any Way tothe apparatusshown and described in the-present application aswe may adopt various other-apparatus embodiments utilizing the method Withinthe scope of theappended claims. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1- is a View. partly in section and partly in elevation taken longitudinally through a preferreol embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary-side view of therecessseparation pointof the device of Figurel.

Figure 3 is atop-plan view taken as indicated bythearrow 3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a crosssectional view-takenas indicated by the line 4-4 in Figure 3, and rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.

Figure 5 is areduced sectionalview taken as in Figure 1 show-ing-theuse of-an-alternate-form of fruit orientating recess.

Figure 6 is across-sectional-view taken as-indicated by line 66 in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is atop view taken as indicated by line 'E-'I in Figure 6.

T Figure 8 is a longitudinal-sectional View taken as-indicated by line 88 in-Figure 7, androtated 90 degrees clockwise.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transfer and pitting mechanisms-used-in the machines shown in Figures 1 and 5.

Figure 10 is a frontendview taken as indicate by-arrow -I ll in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective View ofaselector block used in the device of Figure 9.

I Figure 12 is a-side view'taken-of the near side of the machines of Figures 1 and 5.

Figure 13 is a side view taken-of the far of the machines of Figures 1 and 5.

Figure 14 is afront-end View of'the machine of Figurel, parts being broken away for clarity.

. Figure 15 is a timing chart applicable forthe operation of the machines of Figures land 5.

. We refer firstto Figures 1, 2, and 3, which show the main features of the machine somewhat diagrammatically for clarity of illustration. Although up to-- parallel rows of recesses-may be used onlyone row is shown in these figures.

The main structural support of the machine is a-pair'of spaced .upright steel plates -19 mounted on a-subframe II. :If only afew parallel ide orientation rows are to be-utilized only asingle plate. needbe used. However, if a larger number ofrows-are to be utilized, then a plate Hi is;used on each side, as will be shown later.

on the bottoms of base blocks 3|.

.Fruit, such as cherries, to be orientated, are placed in a hopper I2 mounted on top of the side plate IO and pass through lower hopper opening I4 to fall into fruit receptacles I5 n the periphery of a feed drum I6 rotated counterclockwise, as shown in Figure .1. A brush I! mounted above drum I6 is also rotated counterclockwise, and bears against the periphery of drum I6 as it rotates, and vents fruit other than the fruit in receptacles I from being carried around the drum.

. A stationary drum shell I8 is positioned around the drum I6 as the fruit is moved downwardly in receptacles I5, this shell terminating just above aconveyor 29 so that fruit in the receptacles I5 will drop into fruit receiving recess ZIformedby separate parts of the conveyor. In order that fruit that might not drop out of the drum receptacles I5 be removed before the receptacle arrives back at hopper opening I4, each receptacle is provided with an ejector piston 22 that is moved outwardly by a cam 23 to force fruit into a screw conveyor trough 24 from which these fruits are removed laterally by a screw conveyor 25. This construction is particularly valuable when processing cherries, as twin fruits are apt to become forced into the receptaclesl5 by the action of brush I1 and thus do not readily drop out of receptacles I5 at the end of drum shell I8.

One typeof conveyor construction is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and a. In this embodiment, each conveyor 26 comprises an endless link type chain 30. Base blocks .3I are rotatively connected to adjacent exterior links 32, these latter links being connected by interior links 33.

At a point just below the termination of drum shell IS the chain 35 passes upwardly over an idling sprocket 34 (Figure l) and then onto. a pair of spaced, horizontal slide bars 36 bearing The chain runs a short distance horizontally over slide bars and then breaks sharply around a small roller 31 tocause an abrupt downward shift of chain path. After passing over roller 31 the chain passes over a guide plate 38, and then drops by gravity until it rises to pass again around idling sprocket 34.

The fruit orientating recesses 2| in this particular embodiment are shaped as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4.,

, Here, each base block BI is rearwardly provided with a vertically extending cross bar 40 having front and rear flat, sloping surfaces M and 42, respectively, these cross bars extending at right angles to the conveyor path. Side walls 43, having fiat, sloping surfaces 44, ar also erected from base block 3| extending forwardly to end adjacent the rear surface 42 of the preceding cross bar 45. Thus, each orientation recess 2I has an inverted truncated pyramidal shape, with the crossbar 40 forming the front of one recess and the rear of the preceding recess. Referring again to Figure l, the conveyor chain30 is progressed by an overhead drive gear mounted on gear shaft 5I extending through the side plate I5, the teeth 52 on gear 50 meshing with chain 39 between exterior links 32.

As the conveyor 2!] is progressed, orientationof the fruit in the composite recesses is accomplished by a wheel 55 having a serrated edge positioned in each base block 3|, to have thewheel periphery extend above the bottom level of the associated recess, the wheel entering the recess through slot 55 in a base plate 51, as shown in 6 Figures 3 and 4. Wheel 55 is mounted on a floating shaft 58, this shaft being free to move vertically in a shaft slot 60. The lower periphery of the wheel 55 extends below the level of base block 3| through a base block opening a to contact a driving belt 6 I. I

As shown in Figure 1, belt 6| is mounted on fore and aft pulleys 62 and 63, respectively, and extends from the fruit loading position to a point just below drive gear 50 so that belt BI contacts all wheels in all recesses that are on the slide bars 36, except the recess that is about to pass around roller 31. I s

As the orientation recesses 2I pass over the slide bars 36, the wheels 55 are rotated, preferably counterclockwise so that the thrust of the rotating fruit is taken by the front surface 41 of each cross bar, thereby placing the cherry rearwardly in each recess. 7

As stated above, as each recess reaches the roller 31, the chain 30 starts abruptly downward as shown best in Figure 2. This abrupt change in chain angle places the cross bar of the recess that has passed around the apex of the guide plate 38 completely below and away from the three sides and bottom of the following recess, while the latter recess is still horizontal. This horizontal position is the fruit removal position of each recess, and if desired the teeth 52 of driving gear 50 can be spaced to permit the recess to have a slight dwell in this position for fruit removal, although a pronounced intermittent motion is not necessary.

The composite orientation recess just above described is ideal for fruit that averages spherical in shape. However, certain types of cherries, for example, may have a relatively high percentage of fruit that are elongated along the indent-tip axis. These fruit tend to assume a more or less stable position while being rotated by the wheel 55 with the indent-tip axis at a. right angle to the plane of the wheel. When this happens the fruit is not generally orientated properly in the time allotted for orientation. Consequently, it may be desirable to provide means associated with the recesses to turn elongated fruit that is rotat ing in the above described manner so that elongated fruit can be properly orientated within the allotted time. v

One recess arrangement in which this can be accomplished is shown in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, in conjunction with a multiple row machine.

Here, the base blocks I0, themselves, form the interior links of the chains, the exterior links carrying cross bars II as separate entities. These cross bars do. not have recess sides attached to them. Instead, the recess sides are stationary side bars I2 extended downwardly from a side bar frame I3 positioned above the conveyor. Each stationary side bar 12 is provided with laterally extending turning ribs I4, the inner surfaces of these ribs being sloped, the side bars I2 not being sloped between the ribs. Ribs I4 are oppositely spaced to define sides of the recess normally permitting a cherry to pass through unobstructed if spherical but to touch and turn an elongated cherry when rotating on the wheel with the indent-tip axis crosswise in the recess. The turning action of the ribs I4 thus disturbs the stable position of the cherry so that it is more readily orientated when elongated, and this type of conveyor, With only the wheel-carrying base blocks I0 and the cross bars 'II being progressed between stationary sides, has been found to very materi- '7 ally increase the orientation percentage of .elon gated fruit therein.

lt should, .lhowever, be pointed out thatside bars J2 do not. necessarily haveflto be stationary. They can bemovedor oscillated alongthe conveyor line if desired. -It is deSir'abIe only-that relatives-motionbe achievedsbetween the conveyon.andQthe sidebar i l2 ineorder that a high percentage of orientation be 'obtained with elongated fruit. Consequently, we do not desire to be limited'to the use-of stationary side-bars.

Furthermore; when. the base I blocks are placed between the separate .crossbars- 'H as shown-in Figure 8, and where it is desiredto carry the sidesof'the recesses on the conveyonthe sides of the recesses can be attached directly to the base bloeks 'm andnot to the cross bars as first herein described. In any event, however, each cross bar should be separately mounted on chain Silso that the forward cross bar may break sharply over roller 3l-to-open the following recess .for fruit removal. When-this is done,;itis immaterial from-a fruit removal point of view Whether the receptacle sidewalls are attached to the cross -bars ,--the-b'otto n s, or whether they are stationary. It will thus be-seen that various modifications of the composite-recess are adapted -to be utilized without modification of the general assembly of themachine.

A-fruit transport and pitting mechanism suitable forhandling fruit orientated by the devices so far described isshown in Figures 1, 6, and- 9 to 14, inclusive, but best shown in- Figure' 9. lhis transport andpitting mechanism forms the subject matter ofa separate application filed simultaneously with the filing of the present application. -Each side plate to is provided with a horizontalslot '80 in-Which a transfer bar 8! is reciprocated. The slot 85 extends from a point near the position-of-a recess opened for fruit transport, to apitting station, and transfer bar 8| carries a hollow vacuum pick-up tube 82 extending toward the conveyor Ell-and terminating in a flaredend 83'facing the opened recess 2 i. Transfer bar 8 I is movable along slot' fifi to-place flared end-83- of pickup tube 82 in a position where it will closely approach or contact the side of a fruit resting in the openedrecess during its slight dwell in this position. At this point vacuum is applied to tube 82- and the fruit is atta'ched'by suction-to the flared end'83 of the pickuptubeSZ. Transfer bar iltthenmoves to theopposite end of itsstroke in slot- EOto place the fruit over a pitting rubber 85 having a central pitaperture 85 therein this rubber-being held in an-anvil bar' 81. A pittingknife 83 isreciprocated vertically being-held in knife frame-89, this-knife passing through a stripper plate BEL-then through the fruit to. force the pitxof the fruit through the apertureiilfi in rubber5'85'. to pass through a pitduct' 9| in-pitting frame 37 to land ona pit plate 92;2tid8d in passage by water from pipe 93 connected to manifold 93a, as shown in Figure 9.

Pit plate 92 is provided with a forward pit discharge opening 93. normally covered by thebottom of a selector slide 9 2 reciprocable in a horizontal plane.

The selector slide. 94 (as shown in Figure 11) comprises an apertured bottom 95, sides" 91, uprightgate actuator arm 93, and a female comb 99and' slides freely over pit plate 92,"being moved directly toward the conveyor by male-comb attached to selector bar 95 contacting upright gate actuator-arm 98. Selector bar 95 isreciprocated in a horizontalplane by a mechanism yet 8 to be described .Selector. slide 54 can be moved away from' the conveyor only by a pit 2| 9| resting .on pit plate QZbeingcaughtbetWeen the male and female combs lflfi and=99 onthe return stroke of the-selectoribari95. Thus, whether or not the selectori slide. 94. will -move, away from. the conveyor depends' upon whether or. not there is a pit l resting on pit plate 92.

" Theupright g'ate actuator arm'QB on the'S'elector slide- 94 extends upwardly to contact the bottom of an angularly disposed gate I05 hinged at its uupper edge and sloping downwardly, this contact-beingamadeinside of-hook IDS-mounted on jtgatelllfi5. With' the selector 'S1ide"94l'.in .its forward position, Ii. e., towardnthe. conveyor, the gate: [105. forms a path. between. a I fixed front .channelplate It? and a fixed rear, channel. plate IIlBIintoan unpittedfruit: chute'LIOQ. .When the selector. slide 9 5;... is: moved. to. the rear i by. a: pit [0| 1' being :caught. between combs; ,99 .zand J00, gate 105 fswings downwardly to open a; .path into aipittedfruitchute. H0 at the-rearfofreart channelfplate I98. I Frontichannel'plate .HJ I iS spaced from thepconveyorz a :sufiicient distance; so that fruit; not. ipickedyup by pickup. tube 5 8 2. will 1 fall in .front, of .front :channel. plate"! 01. into.v a' chute H l for unpicke'deupifruit.

frMale comb. lflfl'connected' to selector bar 95:;is sloped rearwardlyand upwardly, so. thatonthe rearward stroke of selector bar;i95,1(shown by brokenline S in rear position)',..the;.pit is forced downwardly. through .the pit-discharge opening .93 in :pit1'plate:;92..toi fall into'a ipitchutexlld. Theiunpitted fruit,1the pitted. fruit;.,and .the pits fall on. separate portions ofman'. output conveyor H5 through their respective chutes, iasxshown in Figures land 5.

.The outputi is i conveyed laterally,.: separately collected,.and:.disposed of ina mannenin keeping with the character of thez collected tmaterial.

Clearance for fruit transported by..the apickup tube LB Z-frOmIithe. opened recess.v at themransport position,v ands for. unobstructed :depositon I the pitting'rubbernis provided. It will benoted, as pointed out above; that just beforethe recess to be opened reaches the. transport position,- the belt 1 drive for -the wheel 55 ceases, dueito' the belt 6| passing around the rear pulley-53. -When this happens, the Wheel 55,- being free-to drop 'under the urge of gravity, does so, so-that-when the fruit is moved along the bottom of therecess, the. wheelis no longer projecting abovethe bottom. -This -actioncf the-wheel 55 prevents the fruit fromubeing rockedoff thefiared-end 8 3- of the-pickuptube '82 as it starts moving away from theopenedreeess.

- Similarly, as the pitting rubber: -is-concave it is desirable to lower the rubber as -the-fruit approaches therubber, and therfra-isethe-rubber as the cherry is directly-overit; atthe rear of the--piekuptube-travel. This is accomplished -by-reciprocating-the anvil bar Bl'vertica-lly" in timed relation to-the stroke-'of'thetransport ban 8'-lyby*a-su=1-ficient distance so that-the fruit will be transported without interference by-the anvilbar-tl-or rubber 85,- and yet will be firmly seated -on-the rubber when the pitting knife -88 passes downwardly through the fruit topit the fruit. V

{El-1e driving--me'chanism for a multiple row machine -sho-wn' in Figures 5 8, inclusive, "is

in detail-in Figures 1; 5; and- 12-14;, "inelusive. It will-beunderstood', however; that the same driving-"elements"can be utilized-todrive themachine: 1 shown in- Figures 1-4, 4 inclusive.

, 9 Referring first to Figure 14, a motor I I9, preferably having a built-in gear reduction unit, is positioned on subframe II and drives a main shaft I28 through a multiple belt I2I. Main shaft I extends through both side plates I I) below the pitting mechanism, and is used to drive cams positioned adjacent both side plates As shown in Figures 1 and 5, mounted on main shaft I26 just inside of plates II), is a selector cam I22 having a selector cam follower I23 mounted on a follower arm I23a extending horizontally to be attached to a generallyvertical selector lever I24. groove l22a. I The top of selector lever I2 3 is attached to selector bar 95 by an adjustable link I. Thus, the selector bar is reciprocated to provide selection and segregation of the pitted cherries, by directing the pitted fruit into the pitted fruit chute H0. 1 I

Mounted just outside of each side plate II] on main shaft I20 is a composite cam I26 (Figures 12 and 13), in one groove I26a of which a horizontal transfer follower I 21 operates, the latter being attached to a horizontal follower arm IZfib operating a vacuum transfer lever I28, the top of which is adjustably connected through transfer link I29, to the vacuum transfer bar-8|, operating in slot 80 in the side plates II], so that the pickup tubes 82 are reciprocated to transfer the fruit from the opened recess to the pitting rubber 85.

Oncomposite cams I26, just outside of each vacuum transfer groove I26a, a pitting cam groove I30 has a pitting cam follower I3I :bearing thereagainst attached to an upright pitting link I3Ia, the upper ends of which are attached to pitter bar I 32 to which knife frame 89 is Follower I23 rides in cam fastened. Thus, the pitting knives are reciprocated.

Between each composite cam I26 and plates II] is an anvil bar cam I48, the peripheries of which are contoured to an anvil bar follower MI Anvil bar follower MI is attached to a generally horizontal follower arm I 4Ia, medially pivoted on follower pivot M2, with one end attached to anvil bar 81. Thus, the anvil bar 81 is raised and lowered as fruit transfer is taking place.

Preferably on one side plate It only, as shown in Figure 12, the outer end of main shaft I20 is provided with lower worm gears I driving a rising worm shaft I46 terminating in upper worm gears I41 driving the gear shaft 5| to which orientator conveyor drive gears 5!] are attached. Orientator gear shaft 5| is also provided on one side only (see Figure 12) with a drum drive pulley I50 connected by drum drive belt I5I to a drum shaft pulley I52 mounted on a drum shaft I53 on which feed drum I6 is mounted (see Figuresl and 5). i

Alongside of drum drive pulley I50 is a screw conveyor drive pulley I54 which, through a screw conveyor belt I55 drives a screw conveyor driven pulley/ 156 attached to a screw conveyor shaft.

I51 on which screw conveyor 25 is rotated in trough 24 (see Figures 1 and 5).

on the opposite side plate It (see Figure 13) brush I'I is rotated by upper brush gears I62, the latter being rotated by a brush belt I53 passing over main'shaft brush pulley I64.

I The wheel drive belts SI are rotated by a large wheel drive pulley I on the outer end of main shaft I23, a wheel. drive main belt Ill passing around the large wheel drive pulley I'II) andthen arounda small wheel drive pulley I'I2 mounted the non-pickup chute III .10 ona wheelbelt shaft I13 on which are mounted the rearwheel belt pulleys 63 which progress the wheel belts 6i. Front wheel belt pulleys BZ are rotated by cross belt I-I I rotating front pulley shaftI'I5. 'I I As best shown in Figures 1 and 5, the vacuum for thepickup tubes 82 is under the control of a vacuum valve I operated by one end of a valve lever I8! pivoted on a lever bracket I82. The other end of valve lever IBI is a lever follower 62m bearing on a lever cam I83 mounted on main shaft I23. Valve ISO is connected to a vacuum (not shown) by vacuum line I84, and'to a source of compressed air (not shown) by air line I 35. The outlet of the valve is connected to a flexible hose I85 connected to 'a manifold I86 inside the vacuum transfer bar 81,- as shown in Figure 9, to which the pickup tubes 82 are attached. The valve when the main shaft I20 is rotated; thus causesalternate reduction and increase in pressure to take place in thetransfer bar manifold Hit, The vacuum pump is to have sufficient capacity to'have one pickup tube 82 pick up a cherry even though all other pickup tubes are open to the atmosphere; I

In the operation of the machine, the motor H9 is started andfruit such as cherries to be pitted are placed in hopper I2 from which the cherries pass individually into the receptacles I5 in the rotating drum I6. Brush I'I'insures that only one fruit is in each aperture and thatno fruitis jammed between drum It and the stationary drum shell I8. The fruit is thencarried downwardly by the receptacles IE to drop into each fruit receiving recess 2! as it arrives at the beginning of the horizontal path of the conveyor. The composite recesses move over the'wheel drive belt BI .as the conveyor progresses, the wheels 55 rotate, and the cherries are rotated in the recesses until the stem indent fits over the wheel and ceases to rotate, or until each wheel drops out of the recess as the wheels pass off from the belt just prior to the transfer position. I I 3 At the transfer position the cross bar Acadjacent the sharp bend in the conveyor path passes around this bend, leaving the remainder of the recess undisturbed, with the majority of the cherries resting improperlyorientated position on the base blocks 3|.

At this time, the flared end 83 of the pickup tube 82 is presented to the side of the cherry, this end moving to a position where it will closely approach or contact the side of a cherry. Ifthe tube touches the cherry, the suction attaches the cherry to the pickup tube. Even if the end of this tube only closely approaches the side of the cherry Without touching it, the air rushing into the tube causes the cherry to moveslightly to attach itself to the tube. The cherry is then withdrawn from the recess, if picked up, and transported on the end of tube 32 to the pitting mechanism. If not picked up, the fruit is car'- ried around the bendand falls by gravity into The progression of the opened recess around the bend opens the next recess and the pickup cycle is repeated; 1

As the cherry approaches the pitting mechanism on the end of pickup tube 82, theanvilbar 81 drops topermit passage of the cherry, then rises beneath it to seat the cherryon the pitting rubber 85 as the pit isforced out of the cherry and through the hole in the pitting rubber to land onthe pitplate 92 aided by water from manifold 93a. The selector slide 9 1 then operates to control the position of gate I05 so that after However; all of the moving parts of themachine mustbeproperlytimed in order-that the proper sequence of operation may be obtained.

One timing sequencefound satisfactory'is shown -in-the chart of Figure 15.

Herethe cycle is shown of one complete revolution w -360) of themain shaft-l20 and its associated cams in: terms of inches of travel. The cycle has been showntostart just-prior'topitting-With the anvil'bar 8l'up, asshown'by line-A on the chart; with the selectorbar 95 stationary,

as shown by' line B on-the chart; withthe vacuum --transfer bar- 8! stationary asindicated by line C;

and With-'thepitting knife 88- moving downwardly ;-as;shovvn by-line D.

The-vacuum valve I80 is providing maximum negative pressure (suction) at all times except betweenpoints-mand y'online c,-where com- -pressed air-is injected into tubes 82 through valve- *l 80.

-As thecycleproceeds, the pitting knife 88 reachesits full downward stroke at about 30 and starts back upwardly to become stationary at Just prior to this point, at about 70, the selector bar -95 starts moving, I and the anvil ba1 8l drops. *As the anvil bar dropsthe vacuum. transferbar- 8l-moves-the pitted cherryback toward-the conveyor andpushesit off the pitting -rubber-85- and anvil-bar- 87. At the same time suction-is shut off and as the cherry is moved toward-gate IDS-it isblown off theend ofpickup tube 82. lathe meantime, the selector bar 95 has movedsulficientlyto position gate i9 in accordance-withthe presence o-r-absence of-a pit onpit plate 92. Thus, the cherry ispreperly segregated in-accordance-With-the result of the action of 'the pittingknife.

-I'he vacuum -transfer bar 8| then continues to move towardthe conveyor, and the selector-bar 95moves-back to-discharge the'pit, if present, into pit chute H4. The selector bar then remains stationary until the next cycle. At 160 vacuum is-reestablished inthe pickup tubes 82.

-At about 190, the vacuum transfer bar8l reaches the-conveyor end of its stroke,- and pickup tube-82 is inserted into the openedfruit orientation-recess now atthe end of the horizontal path or the conveyontopick up a cherry in the recess. The direction-of the vacuum transfer'barthen reverses and thebar starts back toward the anvil. bar 81 at the same speed as the recess is being progressedbythe carrier. During this synchronous "travel the cherry-sticks to-the flared end 83 of the pickup-tube. The motion of the transferbar 8| isthenwspeeded up to transport the cherry to a point just abovethe pitting rubber 85'; stopping there at about 338. The anvil bar 81 then immediately risesunder the fruit, and

the-pitting' knife 'flfl startsdown at about 345. The :cycle is then repeated.

-Thus. each part is connected to give its proper motion whenthe main shaft-is rotated. In' one particular embodiment of the device foimdpractical and highly' satisfactory for the orientation and pitting of ch'erriesthe stroke of the vacuum transfer bar 8 I is six inches 1 horizontally; the pitting-knife B3has a l /zin'ch vertical: stroke,

12 the anvil bar 8'! a vertical stroke of g glllch, and the-selector-bar 95- is given a horizontal stroke ofthreeinches; all as indicated in Figure 15.

Thus, with: 48 R.'P. M. of the main shaft, in

I one particular-embodiment, forexample, 48

cherries can-be pitted per-minute in eachcarrier row, and with 20 carrier rows, 960 cherries per minute is the complete output. Higher-speeds are-possible if the fruit is fully graded.

"The percentage of orientation in the machine described is high, andthe-fruit is sorted-:into four groups:- non-loading fruit, mostly twins, from the drumejectors; fruit not picked up by-the transfer mechanism; unpitted fruit, and: the-desired properly pitted fruit. The overall percentage of the'latter'will, of course, depend upon thequality of-the fruit being processed bu-t can be counted on to contain a very high-percentage (wellover of all the fruit physically-suitable for proper loading, orientation and pitting.

Many runs have been made averaging over-9 5% overall orientated andpitted cherries. From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus-provided a-device of-the character describedpossessing the particularicaturesof advantage before enumerated-as desirable,- butwhi'ch obviously is susceptible of modification in'its-form proportions. detail construction and arrangement-ofparts without departing from theprin'cipleinvolved or sacrificing-anyof its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the

invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features; it is-to be understood that the invention isnotlimitedto the ispecific features shown, but thatthe means and-construction herein disclosed. comprise-the preferredform of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is-,- therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of. the appended claims.

"What-is claimed ist 1; In a fruit orient-ation device; a'fruit-receiv- 'ing 'recess formed by' a substantially horizontal bottom plate and four cooperatingmembers extending upwardlyfrom said bottom-forming a recess having a substantiallysquare cross section at alllevels, a fruit contacting: wheelprojecting through said bottomplate, at least one of-said wall membersbeing movable away from the remainingw'all: members to :open said recess and" topermit horizontal' removal of:fruit.-from said recess.

zbAp'paratus in accordance with claim I 1 wherein said movable wall member :isattached to said-bottom to rotate downwardly.

3. Ap-pa'ratus in accordancawith claim 1 wherein three of" said wall membersrand s'aid bottom are solidly attached, the remaining wall member being said movable member.

'4: Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein three ofsaidwall members and said bottom-are solidly attached, the remaining wall member being said movable member, and wherein said movable 'member has attached thereto three other wall members: and 'a-bottom' which, with a-second'movable: member forms a second and duplicate recess.

5. Apparatus in accordance With-claim 1 wherein said members are shaped to form an inverted, truncated pyramidal recess.

6; Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said Wheel is slidablymoun'tedinsaid bottom-to move vertically. into or out-ofsaid recess in accordance with pressure exerted on the bottom of said wheel.

7. In combination, a firstpair of spaced wall members, a second pair of spaced wall members at right angles to said first members, said membersbeing positioned to define a fruit restraining recess of substantially square horizontal cross section, fruit revolving and supporting means positioned substantially centrally at the bottom of said recess and positioned to maintain a substantially fixed position with respect to one of said pairs of members, means for driving said fruit revolving member, and means for separating one of said pairs of members to open said recess at one side thereof.

8. In combination, an endless carrier, means for progressing said carrier over a path including a horizontal portion, a plurality of spaced cross bars on said carrier, the front surface of one bar and the rear surface of the next bar forming the front and rear of a fruit restraining recess, a plate positioned between each of said bars and movable with said bars to form the bottom of each of saidrecesses, a wheel projecting above the top surface of each of said plates, a side member positioned on each side of each bar and extending toward the next bar to complete a plurality of said recesses, belt means contacting the bottom of said wheels for rotating each of said fruit rotating means while in said horizontal path to rotate fruit in said recesses, and means for changing the plane of said carrier to move a bar away from the remainder of said recess at the end of said horizontal path.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said wheels are held above the top surfaces of said plates by resting on said belt.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said wheels are held above the top surfaces of said plates by resting on said belt, and wherein said belt is shaped to withdraw support of said wheels prior to the change of plane of said carrier.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said wheels are held above the top surfaces of said plates by resting on said belt, wherein said belt is shaped to withdraw support of said wheels prior to the change of plane of said carrier, and wherein means are provided in said plate to permit said wheels to drop below the top surface thereof when wheel support is withdrawn.

12. In combination, a carrier having a horizontal path, means for progressing said carrier,

a series of fruit recess defining elements having l vertically extending substantially fiat surfaces thereon, two of said surfaces forming the sides of said recess, the other two of said surfaces forming the ends of said recess supported and progressed by said carrier, a fruit rotating member positioned at the bottom of each recess, means positioned to sharply change the angle of said carrier path downwardly, at least one of said. elements having an end surface thereon changing direction prior to the remainder of said elements, thereby opening one side of each of said recesses as they pass said path angle changing means, and means for rotating said fruit rotating member while said recesses are on said horizontal path.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said recess defining elements are shaped to provide fruit receiving recesses having said fiat surfaces defining a recess of inverted truncated pyramidal shape.

surfaces defining a recess of inverted truncated pyramidal shape, and wherein a single one of said elements has surfacesdefining a portion of two adjacent recesses. 1.15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said recess definin elements areshaped to provide fruit receivin recesses having fiat surfaces defining a recess of inverted truncated pyramidal shape, wherein a single one of said element has surfaces defining a portion of two adjacent recesses, and wherein said single element is connectedto said carrier to change direction prior to the remaining elements to open arecess.

16. In combination, an endless carrier having a plurality of hinged links, means for progressing said carrier over a path including a horizontal path, means positioned at the end of said horizontal path for sharply changing the path of said carrier downwardly link by link, elements defining a fruit restraining recess mounted on said carrier, elements defining the back, bottom, and sides of one recess being mounted on one link and an element defining the front of the following recess being mounted on an immediately preceding link.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said elements are shaped to form recesses of inverted truncated pyramidal shape and wherein means are provided to support and rotate fruit in said recesses while traversing said horizontal path.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said elements are shaped to form recesses of inverted truncated pyramidal shape, wherein means are provided to support and rotate fruit in said recesses while traversing said horizontal path, and wherein means are provided to remove fruit support by said fruit rotating means prior to change in direction of the path of said carrier.

19. In combination, an endless carrier having a plurality of hinged links, means for progressing said carrier, a plurality of cross bars carried on alternate links of said carrier, each of said cross bars having a surface formin the rear of a fruit receiving recess and having a surface forming the front of a following fruit receiving recess, elements defining fruit recess side walls attached to each cross bar and extending forwardly to the preceding cross bar, a fruit recess bottom carried by a link and positioned between said cross bars, a wheel mounted on each of said bottoms and projecting above the top surfaces thereof, and means for rotating said wheels while said bottoms are being progressed.

20. In combination, an endless carrier having a plurality of hinged links, means for progressing said carrier over a horizontal path, a plurality of cross bars carried on alternate links of said carrier, each of said cross bars having a surface forming the rear of a fruit receiving recess and having a surface forming the front of a following fruit receiving recess, elements definin fruit recess side walls attached to each cross bar and extending forwardly to the preceding cross bar, a fruit recess bottom carried by a link and positioned between said cross bars, a wheel mounted on each of said bottoms and projecting above the top surfaces thereof and below the bottom thereof, an endless belt having an extent parallel to said horizontal path and simulbelt.

WILLIAM A. DOERING; WILLIAM KOENIG.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patenlz'x Number 16 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Carroll Nov, 5,1940 Ashlock Sept; 22, 1942 Carroll 0017,13, 1942 Ashlock Jan. 12, 1943 Drake Q. Feb. '15, 1944 

